I've had to take this chapter down a few times because it keeps changing the formatting I write in
A/N: I feel terrible.
I think about how long I've been working on this fic and how long it takes me ages to post again. I'm ashamed, to be honest. That's why I am determined to get the other 16 chapters finished as soon as possible! I'm not sure whether I'll post them all at once or once I've finished the chapter. Maybe you could let me know what you'd prefer. If there's anyone still there…
I truly hope there are still readers who have stuck with me over the duration. It means a lot to think that there are people out there (hopefully) enjoying my fic so far. I know I'm not the best writer and it's something I am working at.
This chapter's relevant in its own way and has some of my favourite scenes in it. I know some of the Yama stuff is pretty soppy but at the end of the day I think he's a character with a lot of thoughts in his head and it just so happens that a romantic woman is writing them for him. Future chapters contain more…oomph, for lack of a better word and I'm looking forward to writing them (I should mention I've not started C.10 yet but I will in the next couple of days).
One thing I should mention is that I think I am switching to only Japanese human names. However, I doubt I could correctly add the honorifics to them all so I'll be leaving them out plus I'm not putting surnames first. There's not really a reason why though… I know it doesn't make a lot of sense but I prefer the Japanese names. I'm leaving Digimon names as the English versions by which I know them for how little I specifically name one. I'll be happy to clear up any questions because I have lost touch slightly.
I've contemplated cutting it shorter than my original plan. Re-editing the documents on here once it has changed a lot of my formatting it getting really annoying, especially when it decides not to leave like I put it. Literally making me pull on my hair because I've been here over an hour. However, after all the hassle I've been through, what with losing it for months and having to write a new plan…I've grown rather attached. Sure, it's turning out like a novel…What can I say? Maybe I'll edit it and try get it published.
I'm kidding. I can barely write a shopping list.
Ugh, I wanted to keep this short. Okay, on with the show…
Jemma (OBTN)
Disclaimer: The author (Only By The Night) does not own Digimon, or anything recognised to be associated with the series in any way. The author makes no claims that they created the characters, or series. The plot belongs to the author, and should not be re-distributed or plagiarised in any way without the author having been notified and without the author giving their consent for it to be done.
CHAPTER IX -CHEMISTRY AND CONVERSATIONS.
Sora POV
Before I knew it, Monday morning had arrived. I was getting ready for school and my mind had only wandered to Yamato occasionally as I absently pulled on the forest green attire and went about my routine.
Who was I trying to fool? I had barely stopped thinking about Yamato all weekend. However, I was still content with my new epiphany. Even though I wanted to be more than friends with Yamato I was totallyfine with the friendship we shared. As long as it remained slightly different to the other male-female friendships I had I could cope, at least for the time being.
'Totally fine.' I reminded myself.
The first half of school passed rather quickly. I received multiple congratulations about my tennis victory now that word had spread. Some of these were from people who had never muttered a single word to me before which was surprising, to say the least. I guess they were glad our school had triumphed.
My mood was more upbeat than it had been recently and I noticed myself taking in more of what was going on around me. I noticed how much closer Mimi and Koushiro were getting, and that Hikari and Takeru were one of the cutest couples I had ever seen.
At lunch my group of friends and I gathered under the large tree where we would normally sit-weather permitting, of course. I was sitting next to Yamato who was repeatedly tossing an apple up in the air and catching it again. It was the second most distracting thing I could name after the look on his face. An impish concentration would be the only way I could describe it. His lips were slightly parted and his eyes glowed. He threw the apple up again but before he was able to catch it I caught it in my hand and leapt off the ground and stood there looking at him teasingly.
As I carefully turned the apple in my hands, Yamato slowly rose from the ground, his eyes narrowing playfully as he made the movement. We stood there looking at one another for a moment before Yamato pounced towards me. He tried to take a hold of me but I was able to squirm away from my blonde companion with a quiet squeal. I began running away from him creating a substantial gap between us and the others whom had budded off into smaller groups. Yamato chased me continually and had soon caught me up, no doubt within reaching distance. He was hot on my tail when I decided to slow down slightly and re-approach the group.
Quickly, Yamato came right up and embraced me from behind, his arms wrapping securely around my waist, and forcing me to a halt. He pulled me close towards his body and softly nudged my head to the side with his own. He proceeded to whisper in my ear: 'My apple.'
It was a good thing that he had such a firm grasp on me because I think I would have collapsed on to the floor if he did not. My heart was racing and Yamato could no doubt feel my pulse passing through my veins. His hold unwavering, a light sweat began covering my palms as I grew more and more aware of the Adonis behind me and less so of our surroundings.
His mouth was still near to my ear and as he moved it away with a mischievous chuckle; his nose grazing over my hair. It could have been my over-active imagination but I was sure he inhaled as he did so.
Yamato POV
I was an idiot.
A moron.
I did not know why I was acting the way I was. What had spurred me to chase Sora, something I may have done before, and furthermore, what had possessed me to take a hold of her that way? I couldn't seem to help myself and deep, deep down I knew I didn't want to let her go.
Sora was the first person I had ever felt like this towards. I wanted her to be so much more than my friend from summer camp. We had already shared so much together but I wanted that to be the start. I was definitely falling in love with her.
Sora POV
The bell signalling the end of lunch break rang and everyone around was getting ready to head back into the main building. I watched as Hikari and Takeru walked away holding hands, and as Daisuke desperately tried to walk in-between them. Next to me, Mimi and Koushiro were standing close to one another. Their foreheads were resting on that of the other and their lips were mere centimetres apart. Both of them had massive smiles on their faces and I was genuinely happy for them and only a little bit jealous. They'd come such a long way. When Mimi's family moved to America, I hate to admit, I wasn't sure their relationship would last. I hoped it would, from the bottom of my heart and was there for both when it didn't. It was great to see them together again, happier than they were before. Absence must truly make the heart grow fonder…
I felt as if I was imposing on Mimi and Koushiro so I started to edge away from them and slowly walked in the direction of Yamato and Taichi. I was still a fair distance away when I saw Taichi put his hand on Yamato's shoulder to stop him walking away. My pace slowed significantly as I tried to decipher what was going on between my two friends. I was not close enough to be able to hear what they were saying but I could see their mouths moving. Taichi was using vigorous hand movements yet it didn't seem as if they were fighting. I knew that when Yamato was annoyed his hands would ball up by his sides but they were currently in his pockets. However, knowing this only managed to unsettle me further. I grew more curious about their serious conversation as my pace fell even more to the point where it looked as if I were loitering. I eventually stopped walking and was only standing a short distance away when I saw Taichi look in my direction and then back at Yamato who was looking down at the ground and shaking his head. His hair had fallen forward and all but covered his face. He took his left hand from his pocket and ran it through his golden hair as he simultaneously raised his head. He gestured his left hand in front of him and spoke said something to Taichi. Taichi replied with only small movement of his lips and then both of the male Digidestined looked in my direction as I continued to stare at them both.
I felt a shiver run though my body. I cannot explain it but it was if they were talking about me and from my point of view it didn't look positive. A pang of hurt soared through my chest and that was when I realised that I was standing by myself. Looking around me and starting to feel self-conscious, I quickly paced off towards to school and then broke out into a slow run as I passed Yamato and Taichi trying hard to not listen to my thoughts and the calls of my name.
I was sitting at my usual desk at the back of the classroom when Yamato and Taichi walked in. I was absently staring out the nearby window trying to sort through the thoughts I was trying so hard to ignore now that I had cooled off slightly.
I knew Yamato wouldn't feel the same way towards me as I did him. The sooner I fully got my emotions under control the better. It needed to stop before anyone else got more hurt. I did not want to lose his friendship-even if I did long for more-over this.
I started thinking back to when we were just innocent children roaming the Digital World. At the time I hadn't understood why it upset me quite so much when Yamato left the group. I still believe that not a soul knew how I truly felt then, not even Biomon. It pained me that I didn't feel I could tell anyone how I honestly felt during that time and how well I had managed to hide my true emotions. My mind paced through the years of Digimon and adolescence and then I started to doubt whether telling Hikari was such a good idea after all. At the end of the day it was another person to get involved in a very convoluted situation. It was my burden to bear, not hers.
I was still staring out the window when I felt a hand on my shoulder. I jumped up and moved away from the touch leaving Yamato's hand hovering in the air.
"Sora, is everything alright? You weren't answering…" Yamato trailed off in a quiet voice.
"Hm? Oh, sorry. I was daydreaming." I explained in a forced upbeat voice. I avoided eye contact with the sapphire orbs I knew were in front of me and noticed that the professor had walked into the room. I nodded towards the front of the class and with a weak smile turned my head in hope that I could avoid further conversation.
This, however, would not be the case because the professor assigned pair tasks to be carried out. I looked down at the worksheet and saw numerous unbalanced chemical equations underneath paragraphs with words such as 'Discuss' and 'Confer' in them. I sighed.
"Seriously, Sor, something's bothering you, I know it is. Please know you can talk to me about it." Yamato's eyes softened and I regretted instantly that I had allowed myself to look at them.
My mood shifted as I realised how silly I was being about what happened at the end of lunch. I had no proof of what they were talking about and at the end of the day Yamato was still my best friend. I smiled at him and replied "Well, yes, okay. Maybe there is something, but it's not important. Anyway, we need to do this so it's not like we can—Hey, what are you doing?"
Yamato had pulled the worksheet from my hands and was staring at it. He swiftly wrote answers to all of the questions and maybe after five minutes of me watching him he had covered all of them. As he placed his pen down on the desk he turned to me and said "Okay, now we have time to talk."
I quietly laughed in astonishment and cheekily replied, "You know, this was a pairedtask?" Yamato's face lit up as he once more asked me to talk to him.
For the rest of the lesson Yamato and I talked just like old times. I had managed to convince him that I was fine. I say convinced but maybe he just gave up asking. Either or, I was grateful for the way things had turned out. I managed to put all my worries behind me and managed to lock away my stronger feelings to enjoy the friendship for what it was. At one point Yamato had me laughing so hard that the professor had to ask us to be quiet saying that the assignment wasn't that fun. By the time class had ended my mood was significantly lighter.
That evening I sat outside on the balcony of my bedroom absently staring out at the glowering sky, watching the oranges turn to pinks, and finally deep red just as the sun cowered in the distance before completely disappearing from sight. Classical music softly floated up from my laptop which was placed at my feet, accompanied only by the gentle winds and muffled city sounds.
As the current Bach piece faded out I heard a delicate click coming from the floor. Upon picking up my laptop I noticed I had a new email from Yamato. Curiosity getting the better of me, I quickly opened the file and read its contents.
Hey, Sor :)
Come online. I have something to tell you.
Y x
I was intrigued. I signed in the IM program and opened a chat box with Yamato. However, before I got round to typing something it popped up:
Y: You're finally online! Did you get my email? :)
S: Well done, Sherlock.
JK
But not really. I did. What's up?
Y: Nothing much…just thought I'd let you be the first outsider to hear about the upcoming Teenage Wolves concert but if you're going to make fun of me maybe I'll go tell Takeru…
S: You know you love it.
Y: It's true. I do.
S: But all kidding aside, Yama, that's great!
Y: Who was kidding…? But the guys are really excited about it.
S: What about you? Aren't you excited?
Y: I am. Very excited. It's just that I'm always apprehensive when performing new songs.
S: Ah…the new songs. I'm sure the fans will love them, like every other song you've written. Hell, you could probably sing about school lunch meat and they'd diligently listen just because you're the one singing!
Y: I don't know whether to be insulted or touched… But seriously, that's not why I'm worried. It's hard to put in to words…
S: So… are you're nervous?
Y: In a sense, yes. I am.
S: I'm sure everything will be fine on the night. Besides, you'll have me cheering you on all the way.
It was so easy to be playful when I wasn't face to face with Yamato, but put me in the same room and I'd manage to make a fool of myself in multiple ways.
Yamato's reply wasn't quick, although the screen showed that a message was being written. Soon the notice stating he was typing disappeared and not long after it quickly returned before a reply came through:
Y:You'll be there...
Before I could even figure out what Yamato meant by this he had quickly changed the subject on to something else.
We continued talking throughout the early evening and it was comfortable and, more importantly, easy. I had successfully managed to lock away the unreasonable feelings and even though they were still there, as strong as ever, being around Yamato no longer seemed difficult. I knew things for what they were and was learning to live in the moment. Yamato's mood picked up substantially and an onlooker wouldn't have known anything was wrong in the first place. I was beginning to think things were on the up and up.
Yamato POV
As the dark sky of night softly faded into the lighter shades of morning, I conceded to the fact that I would not get any sleep. Every time I closed my eyes my mind would race to earlier and my conversation with Sora. I was excited about the news of the upcoming concert and wanted Sora to be the first person I could share it with that wasn't involved in setting it up. Relieved that Sora was feeling more like her old self I participated in the playful way we always spoke together over the internet. The lack of social awkwardness proved beneficial when it came to casual flirting because if I had been saying those things to her face the soft red blush that appeared at the top my cheeks would have been as noticeable as my mind would race to improbable conclusions. I was beginning to day dream and knew it had to end because sooner or later it would be by downfall. I would open my mouth and something stupid would come out and ruin it all. It was bad enough saying what I already had. Not including the foolish ways I had acted over the past week, I almost blew it. It would have been so simple to confess everything right there when I had an opening: 'Sora, you are the reason I am nervous. I think I love you.' As true as it may be, it seems more like something you would see in a romantic movie.
'Sora, my love. Let me serenade you with this guitar by yonder window! The whole slow motion-running through a meadow into one another's arms thing? Go for it, man.'
I tried to ignore the sound of my subconscious mocking me as I brought my hands up to my face. I roughly ran my palms up and down my face as I tried to organise my thoughts. I knew little of love. Watching my parents' divorce did little for my belief in the ideal thinking that if it couldn't work for them it why on Earth would it work for me. I became scared of allowing myself to ever become that vulnerable. It's part of the reason why I never dated, at least not properly. Before the band took of I had been on a few dates, I will admit. Nothing ever came of them. Once I had somehow attracted a fan-base it seemed the only girls interested were the ones wanting a rock star and not the real me.
I slowly closed my eyes once more, the ever increasing light causing a maroon glow to play on my eyelids. The colours distorted and moved about and a projection of Sora was played in front of my shielded eyes. Sora was different. She did know the real me, perhaps better than the others. Someone had fought their way past my barricade and was working their way in to heart. Could I really sacrifice a meaningful friendship; did I need to give in to love?
